Never provide confidential or financial information over the Internet in response to unsolicited e-mails.

Play it safe! If you’re not sure of the source of an e-mail or if it looks suspicious, don’t open it.

Be cautious! Even if you recognize a sender's e-mail address, do not rely on that alone because addresses may be faked.

Pay attention to the contents of the e-mail and be careful of any embedded links.

Never click on a link in an e-mail that you suspect may be fake.

Be sure! If you are unsure whether you are on a legitimate website, reopen your internet browser and type the company URL in the address bar yourself.

Before you enter confidential information online, check for the lock icon on your browser. Ensure the URL in the browser address bar starts with "https."

Be alert! Just because an e-mail or website appears to be from a legitimate company doesn't mean it is. Phishing schemes are designed to look real to trick users into divulging personal information for the purpose of financial fraud or identity theft.